2006 Regional Laredo SBA, San Antonio District, winners

By MIKE HALL Laredo Morning Times

Roxanne I. Vedia

Roxanne I. Vedia, the business services coordinator for the South Texas Workforce Development Board, is the winner of the Laredo Small Business Administration, San Antonio District, Women Champion of the Year.

“I’m very grateful for regional Small Business Development Center, and San Antonio SBA for honoring me for this great achievement, and I accept it whole-heartedly. I want to dedicate this award to my father, Jose M. Martinez, who is one of my greatest supporters throughout my life. He has always been supportive of my achievements, and anytime anything would come out (in print), he would frame it for me. Unfortunately, he is critically ill right now, and that’s why I’m dedicating this award to him,” she said. “There’s a multitude of thanks to my husband and my sons who have always been there for me.”
“My tenure with the board is going on four years now and it’s been a long road. Back when business services was first started, it was a new position, and I ran with it. I took my initiative with it and now it is more active in the business community. We are a very integral part when it comes to businesses being recruited to Laredo in connection with the Laredo Development Foundation and the (Laredo) Chamber of Commerce. We have seen the economic growth of Laredo and we are we are excited to help business community grow and be healthy,” Vedia said.

“I know I have been a contributing factor to this growth. I’ve been told by both of my bosses, Rogelio Treviño, and Virginia Mayers, who have actively supported in all my ventures and continue to support me and guide me. That’s is very important to me that the backbone is there with my bosses,” she said. “When a new idea or something comes to my mind, they trust me to run with it.”
“Roxanne has been instrumental in formulating partnerships for the betterment and creation of small businesses in South Texas,” wrote Treviño, executive director of the STWDB. “She has partnered with the local SBDC on numerous initiatives and is constantly seeking opportunities for our agency to leverage resources in the provision of services to the small business community.”
Born and raised in Laredo, Vedia attended local schools including Mary Help of Christian School for the elementary and junior high grades, and later continued secondary studies at Martin High School and graduated in 1985. Continued post-secondary studies at Laredo Junior College where earned an Associate of Arts and completed a Bachelor of Science form the Laredo State University (currently Texas A&M International University). Married to Tony Vedia and proud mother of two sons; Rolando-10 years old and Andres-2 years old.

In September of 2003 Vedia joined the South Texas Workforce Development Board as newly created Business Service Coordinator for the Tri-County area of Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg counties.

Her primary role is to serve as liaison for the board with the business community, economic development organizations, chamber of commerce, industry associations and other business organizations. She facilitates and ensures that the workforce center’s business service unit is responsive to the needs of the employers of the Workforce Development tri-county area.

Due to her dedication and willing desire, Vedia has developed several programs to better serve our local small business community.

One of these programs has been a “Memorandum of Understanding” between the Laredo Development Foundation’s Small Business Development Center and the South Texas Workforce Development Board. The collaboration between both is to improve employment opportunities for the small business community. The teaming of groups has resulted in a wide range of opportunities to provide education, training, and consultation services to existing and pre-venture small business owners, and to acquire and obtain knowledge for self-sustaining employment opportunities.

Angelica P. Cantu

Angelica P. Cantu, an accountant with Garza, Martinez and Co. is the winner of the Laredo Small Business Administra-tion, San Antonio District, Accountant Champion of the Year.

“I’m honored to be receiving this award because when one starts their career they go into a profession where they can help others and I’m glad that I’m in a position to be where I can help others that need my help,” she said.

“I always get calls from the Laredo Development Foundation that a company is starting up and ask if I could help them out. I’m glad in a position where I can help others to get to where they need to get to and provide them with tools they need to continue their business,” Cantu said.

Accounting is more than just dealing with numbers, she noted.

“Everybody thinks accounting is basic numbers, but it’s more than that. You have a client that has tax planning. It’s a business where you have to come up with ideas to help other people with what they are doing to get to the next level,” Cantu said.

The award is a reflection on her company.

“They have been very supportive and proud that I have received this award. As a matter of fact, both of the partners that own firm have also received this award. It’s nice we’re keeping it within the firm. One got it two years ago, the other got it three or four years ago,” she said.

“You always want to got to the next level. As a certified accountant, it’s a honor someone out there feels that you are worthy of that award,” Cantu said. Certified experience
She has extensive knowledge in the areas of payroll, tax, and audits through almost 11 years of public acounting experience, according to materials submitted to the Laredo Small Business Development Center. She is able to supervise employees and work with all levels of management in a professional and diplomatic manner. With her experience, she is able to work on multiple projects under pressure while meeting strict deadlines.

Cantu was born, raised and educated in Laredo. Her post secondary education included two years at the University of Texas at Austin and then Texas A & M International University where she received a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting. She is currently enrolled in the graduate program at Texas A & M International University pursing a Masters degree in Professional Accountancy.

After graduation, she started her accounting profession as a senior accountant with Baum, Mejia and Co., where she became involved in the preparation of individual, partnership, estates and corporate returns as well as performing not-for profit, profit and governmental audits.

There she also supervised bookkeepers in all aspects of maintaining a full set of accounting books for clients in various industries, which included the preparation of the payroll and sales tax reports require by state and federal agencies. She also administered the group health insurance for the firm, which had three partners, and nine professional and paraprofessionals.

She is fluent in both English and Spanish, and has experience with a variety of computer programs and such as Excel, Lotus 123, Microsoft Word, Lotus Word Pro, Microsoft Works, Word Perfect, Unilink and Lacerte.

In August 2000, she joined the accounting firm of Garza, Martinez & Co., L.L.P., where she is currently employed as a Certified Public Accountant.

Angie tries to give back to the community by assisting the Laredo Development Foundation in providing assistance to clients that are just starting out their business in the areas of tax planning and tax preparation. She is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is married to Robert Cantu and they have two children, Matthew 6 and Victoria 2.

Ruben Garibay

Ruben Garibay, the owner of R.T.T. Automotive, is the winner of the Laredo Small Business Administration, San Antonio District, Hall of Fame Award.

“It’s always an honor to get these awards. It’s actually our second. We received the Small Business of the Year for the San Antonio District in 1999,” he said.

He was the first to win from Laredo, and the youngest recipient to date at 32.

“It good to be noticed for your efforts, always recognizing that we’re not the ones that create the success. All we do is drive it. Our people are the ones that create it. It’s an honor to me and my managers simply because they are the ones who made this happen. I’m along for the ride,” Garibay said.

“They are the driving force, I’m the driver who steers them in the right direction,” he said.

“We, as individuals, have a corporate responsibility to develop ideas that create opportunities, but if you don’t have the right people behind you, you are not going to get anything done. It’s when you start realizing that you are just as important as the people that are around you, and you surround yourself with eagles so you can soar like a eagle, that is when you are going to be successful.” Garibay said.

“You are as good as your weakest link. If you surround yourself with weak individuals and people that don’t have that drive, intelligence and know-how and the ability to execute your ideas, you will drop the ball,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate and blessed to have very good group of people that have developed and reached our goals as group.”
Garibay did not come from a privileged background. Ruben was born in Nuevo Laredo, México the third of five children born to Francisco and Amelia Garibay. The family moved to Laredo, three years later looking for a better opportunity.

Garibay attended local schools up until his senior year in high school when he moved to San Antonio, to attend Jefferson High School and graduate. Garibay attended the University at San Antonio and pursued a career in mechanical engineering. While attending college Garibay supported himself by working at Paul Anderson Office Supply and United Parcel Service.

Garibay’s “can do” attitude and insatiable appetite for learning moved him up the ladder quickly. He, at 23 years of age, became an integral part of the management team until his departure in the spring of 1990.

Garibay returned to his hometown of Laredo in pursuit of his passion, to own his own business and bring modern technology and professionalism to the automotive repair industry. Through hard work and dedication Ruben along with his brother Nephtali opened R.T.T. Automotive dba A-1 Auto Stop on July 4, 1991. Since inception A-1 Auto Stop has been one of the top three auto repair facilities in Laredo.

In 1999 Ruben Garibay was honored as SBA Small Business Person of the Year for the San Antonio District; out of 55 counties, Ruben is the first to win from Laredo and at 32 years of age the youngest recipient to date. Ruben opened a second location A-1 Convenience Center later that year. Garibay’s interest soon turned to the large truck and trailer sales and repair business. Garibay took ownership of several trailer repair facilities and renamed them R.T.T. Automotive dba Laredo Truck and Trailer.

Garibay is married to Tina Fasci Garibay and has two children, Abigail and Isaac. Tina has been a huge inspiration to her husband and is involved in the daily operations of the business.

Garibay and his family are well-known for being very generous and believe in re-investing in then- community. They are personally involved in their church and charitable organizations like the March Of Dimes, The Make a Wish Foundation, The Laredo Medical Center Senior Circle, The United Way, The Christmas Angel Wish, The Thanksgiving Programs for Webb County, among many other local charities.

Joseph De La Cruz

Joseph De La Cruz, is the owner of NAPA Auto and Truck Part Center, is the winner of the Laredo Small Business Administration, San Antonio District, Person of the Year.

“This is a monumental accomplishment for the DLC group which includes my son, Joseph De La Cruz and I, primarily because we went into an industry that was to some degree foreign to us, auto parts and heavy trucks store, and we were able to make it a successful operation with the support of Alberto DeLlano of Commerce Bank and the Small Business Development Center folks. Our credit is extended to them as well,” he said.

“The greatest contribution the Laredo Development Foundation and SBDC is that they were able to facilitate the financial support that we needed through Commerce Bank to put this project together because since parts are a liquid item, it is difficult to get financing for such a project. With the SBDC and the LDF, they were able to facilitate the transaction and make it a heck of a lot easier for us,” De La Cruz said.

“The SBDC takes, as in our case, a corporation which we are multi-faceted in structure, and they work with you and guide you in the process of how to accomplish a loan. They put you in contact with a lender who, in turn, takes you by the hand. Before you go to the Laredo SBDC, I suggest that you do your research and come up with a game plan, do your surveys and your studies and you have to know what you are doing, and make sure you dot all your I’s and cross all your t’s,” he said.

“Once they review your package, and they feel comfortable with it, then you go through an interview with the loan officer, and that gets the ball rolling,” De La Cruz said.

As a young man, Joseph De La Cruz worked at an automotive part store. The auto parts industry intrigued him with the vast types of automotive parts needed to keep in tune with the ever-changing times. As the automotive industry continued to grow, it became much more complex.

During this time, De La Cruz received a grant from the U.S. government which let him go to college. For this grant De La Cruz agreed to work the government for a period of at least four years, or pay the money back for his education. After almost 25 years of federal service, De La Cruz retired in 1998. During his federal service, De La Cruz held various supervisory positions in the U.S. and abroad. He also served at two foreign posts as a member of the U.S. Diplomatic Core.

In 2003, De La Cruz was introduced to David Brunner, director of the San Antonio District NAPA Auto Parts and negotiations to purchase the NAPA Auto Parts Store in Laredo were initiated.

Almost sixteen months later, it was agreed that the store would be purchased by JDEL LTD., which is one of De La Cruz’s corporate entities and an affiliate of the DLC Group. The DLC Group is a conglomerate of various diversified corporations.

De La Cruz discussed the project with De Llano, first vice president, Commerce Bank at Laredo. Commerce Bank is a preferred lender for the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Based on De Llano’s vast experience in working with the SBA and the past credit history of the DLC Group, De Llano recommended an SBA guarantee loan. The SBA would guarantee 80 percent of the loan and that Commerce Bank would only be at risk for 20 percent. Lozano assigned Gladys Rangel as the contact point between the SBDC and the DLC Group.

Although the forms provided seemed like a giant mountain of paperwork, Rangel’s patience and expertise made the entire process very simple. Best of all, since the SBDC is a U.S. Government-sponsored institution; No fees were incurred for this service, he said.